Greece’s finance minister has announced his resignation after Greek voters decisively and “bravely” rejected a tough new bailout deal. Yanis Varoufakis said he had been “made aware” some members of the eurozone did not want him at the meetings of finance ministers.

He quit as the leaders of France and Germany prepared to hold emergency talks, adding: “I shall wear the creditors’ loathing with pride.” GREECE-EU-REFERENDUM-DEBT Varoufakis: “Aware” he was not welcome by some eurozone members Thousands of people waving flags and chanting “no, no, no” celebrated through the night in the centre of Athens as just over 61% snubbed demands for further austerity measures. Creditors had wanted more spending cuts in exchange for extending the country’s multibillion euro bailout deal until November. 1/23 People stand in front of a giant screen with referendum results at the Zappion conference center in Athens “No” supporters celebrate on a street in central in Athens Gallery:

Greece Referendum: Supporters Of The ‘No’ Campaign Celebrate Greece referendum “No” supporters celebrate referendum results on a street in central in Athens Greece referendum People stand in front of a giant screen with referendum results at the Zappion conference center in Athens “No” supporters celebrate on a street in central in Athens Gallery:

Supporters Of The ‘No’ Campaign Celebrate Eyes are now on the opening of the US and European stock markets to see how they react to what is uncharted territory for the eurozone. Leaders from the countries which make up the currency bloc are also meeting on Tuesday for an emergency summit. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called the result a “victory of democracy” and said the Greek people had made a “very brave choice”.

The No campaign won with a higher than expected 61.31%, while Yes got 38.69%. “We proved even in the most difficult circumstances that democracy won’t be blackmailed,” Mr Tsipras said in a TV message to the nation. He has promised to return to the negotiating table to push for better terms from Greece’s creditors – the European Union, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank.

The government says it believes a new bailout deal could be possible with the next 48 hours. Play video “Greek PM Reacts To Referendum” Video: Greek PM Reacts To Referendum Mr Tsipras also stressed the referendum did not necessarily mean Athens would leave the euro – polls show most people in Greece want to stay in the currency union. ”

This is not a mandate of rupture with Europe, but a mandate that bolsters our negotiating strength to achieve a viable deal,” he said. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande have agreed that “the vote of the Greek people must be respected,” according to a spokesman. Mrs Merkel will jet into Paris this afternoon to mull over a strategy to avoid so-called Grexit – Greece leaving the EU and going back to the Drachma currency. No country has ever left the 19-member eurozone.

The meeting comes ahead of another emergency summit of leaders and finance ministers from all eurozone countries on Tuesday. EU President Donald Tusk said on Twitter: “I have called a #EuroSummit Tuesday evening at 18h to discuss situation after referendum in #Greece.” Play video “‘The Greek People Are Not Slaves'” Video: ‘The Greek People Are Not Slaves’ However, some of Europe’s top politicians have already sent out ominous-sounding messages. Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who chairs the eurozone group of finance ministers, said the vote was “very regrettable” for Greece.

Germany’s economics minister and deputy Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said fresh negotiations are “difficult to imagine” and that Greece had “torn down the last bridges”. In London, Prime Minister David Cameron will also meet Bank of England governor Mark Carney and Chancellor George Osborne to discuss the likely impact on the UK. “Whatever Greece decides, Britain is prepared. We have the plans in place for whatever the outcome is,” Mr Osborne told the Andrew Marr Show earlier on Sunday. “I don’t think anyone should be in any doubt – the Greek situation has an impact on the European economy which has an impact on us. We cannot be immune from these developments.” The international bailout – which has so far dished out €240bn ($170bn) in loans – expired last week.

Play video “‘Vote A Yes To Democratic Europe'” Video: ‘Vote A Yes To Democratic Europe’ On the same day Greece defaulted on an IMF repayment, becoming the first developed nation to do so. Banks across the country have been closed for the past week with people only able to withdraw €60 a day from cash machines, leading to long lines at cash machines. Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has said the resounding No vote means they will reopen on Tuesday. However, with no new bailout deal agreed there are worries the government could be forced to effectively “pull the plug” on the cash machines.